Siheyuan: Game of Red Dust

Chapter 64: Receiving the wind and washing away the dust
Li Weidong saw the group of students staring at the food in amazement and said, "I bought this in the mountains yesterday to welcome you. Don't get me wrong, we can't afford to eat like this every day at the institute."

Of course, the salary at our institute is quite good. You will know it later. Now, let’s go eat.”

After listening to Li Weidong, the students came forward in an orderly manner, and Nan Yi and others began to serve meals to the students.

After getting their meals, the students gathered in groups of three or five to eat at temporary tables set up outside.

Li Weidong and Professor Lin arranged the students and went to the table where his wife and Zhou Xiaolin were sitting. The food had already been prepared. Li Weidong and Professor Lin sat down and ate while talking about the afternoon.

After everyone finished their meal, Li Weidong took everyone to visit the research institute, told them about the future work plan, and then took everyone back to let them rest first.

As soon as I came out of the cave of the research institute, I saw Zhou Zhenbei running away in a hurry with two guards.

"Director Li, the materials you requested are here. Where should I unload them?" Zhou Zhenbei said. Since there were outsiders present, Zhou Zhenbei still gave Li Weidong some respect, as he addressed him by his position during work.

"Captain Zhou, take it directly to the research institute. We'll use it tomorrow," said Li Weidong.

"Okay, find a place and I'll let the soldiers unload it for you." Zhou Zhenbei said.

Li Weidong took the students back to the research institute, found a place for Zhou Zhenbei, and helped unload the materials.

Zhou Zhenbei asked Li Weidong to manufacture the firearms as soon as possible. The deployment application had been approved, and he just had to wait for his new firearms. After saying that, Zhou Zhenbei left.

Li Weidong was about to take the students back when Professor Lin suddenly stopped him.

"Director, now that the materials have arrived, let's start working," said Professor Lin.

"Teacher, you can just call me Weidong." Li Weidong said.

"That won't do. We can call each other whatever we want at other times, but when we're working we have to call them by their positions. Otherwise, how can you manage them? Did you all hear that? From now on, you have to call them by their titles when you're working, but you can call them "senior brother or sister" at other times." Professor Lin said.

The students also responded in agreement.

Li Weidong nodded, and brought Professor Lin and many students to the equipment in the previous laboratory and began to make special steel.

Li Weidong first arranged the tasks and asked some students majoring in mechanical engineering to produce special steel.

He first demonstrated it, explaining in detail each step and every point that needed attention. After the production was successful, he took them to test the performance parameters and told them what the standards were.

Then I watched the students make it once and found that there was no problem.

He took another group of students majoring in mechanical engineering to start making gun parts. Before making each part, he explained its function and performance to them in detail.

After they were able to make it themselves, Li Weidong led the computer and materials majors to the raw materials of semiconductors.

Li Weidong did not start production directly, but explained it to them first.

"Students, most of the semiconductor materials we use now are germanium, but I found that germanium semiconductor devices have poor high temperature resistance and radiation resistance. I was wondering, can we replace germanium with another element to enhance its high temperature resistance and radiation resistance?

I started looking and discovered that silicon has similar properties to germanium, but is much more resistant to high temperatures and radiation. So I tested it and found it was feasible. This is the semiconductor material we will create next.

The reason I'm sharing this isn't to brag, but to encourage everyone to be adept at discovery and reflection. After all, I'm just one person, and I can't possibly cover every aspect. This requires the collective wisdom of everyone involved. Anyone with new ideas can come to me. As long as you have a solid theory and can prove your idea's feasibility, I'll approve your research. Don't be afraid of failure; no one succeeds on their first try.

Of course, this is after completing the task I assigned to you. After all, the institute is still mainly focused on this project.

Okay, I've talked enough with you all, now I'll assign tasks, you guys... "

Li Weidong explained some things about semiconductor materials to the students, encouraged them to discover more and think more, pointed out the direction for their efforts, and then arranged for the production of semiconductor materials.

Li Weidong directed the students to produce semiconductor materials step by step, explaining the significance of each step until they made their first piece of silicon semiconductor material. He then had the students try making their own, and only after they succeeded did he feel comfortable handing the project over to them.

The students were working enthusiastically, while Li Weidong and Professor Lin were watching from the side to prevent any problems from occurring.

"Weidong, you should actually stay in school. I feel you should be able to produce a group of outstanding students." Professor Lin sighed.

(⊙o⊙)
Li Weidong was speechless, thinking to himself, "Teacher, I just wanted to relax a bit, so I gave them a pep talk. I don't want to face a bunch of students asking questions every day. Researching advanced technology for the country, and having a bunch of elites working for me to make it easier, doesn't make me so tired. In my spare time, I can still hunt and catch some goblins. How wonderful is that!"

Of course, this is just what I think in my mind, and I definitely can't say that.

"Ahem, teacher, the country isn't completely stable yet. The US and other capitalist countries are still eyeing us covetously. The motherland needs me now. When our motherland develops, maybe I can help."

Li Weidong coughed twice and said with a righteous look on his face.

Professor Lin looked at Li Weidong with satisfaction and said:

"Weidong, you are the most proud student I have ever taught, bar none. I am so proud of you!"

"Teacher, this is serious. This is what I should do." Li Weidong said seriously.

"Teacher, please take care of them first. I'll make a phone call and ask when the machine tools and personnel will arrive." Li Weidong said.

"Okay, go ahead!" said Professor Lin.

Li Weidong gave a few instructions, then left the institute and went to find Zhou Zhenbei.

In Zhou Zhenbei's office, Li Weidong first called the steel mill to inquire about the progress of the machine tool. He learned that it would take two days for it to be delivered. Li Weidong didn't say anything, but simply asked them to hurry up and wait for it. Then he hung up.

Then I called the Ministry of Industry to ask when the engineers from the institute would arrive, and also the institute's personnel and finance departments, how to make arrangements, and when the personnel would arrive.

The Ministry of Industry said that the engineers would take about five days to arrive, but since the personnel and finance staff were being dispatched by the military, they told Li Weidong to contact the military. Finally, they told Li Weidong to find time to take the exam at the Ministry of Industry as soon as possible to upgrade his engineer rank.

Li Weidong quickly agreed and hung up the phone.

Li Weidong did not continue to call the military. With a ready-made tool, who would go to the military to ask one by one?

He said to Zhou Zhenbei, "Uncle Zhou, ask Chief Chen when the personnel for our institute will be arranged. Just let me know after you ask. I'm going to the institute first."

After saying that, Li Weidong ran away.

"Hey, you little bastard, you know how to order people around." Zhou Zhenbei cursed with a smile, then picked up the phone.

"Hello, I'm Zhou Zhenbei, connecting me to Chief Chen."

"Hello, Chief. I'm Zhou Zhenbei. This time I'm talking about Li Weidong's research institute..."

……

Li Weidong returned to the research institute, chatted with Professor Lin for a few words, and then continued to watch the students continue their production.

After all, they had just arrived today and had been on the train for a long time, so they must be very tired. Therefore, Li Weidong let them leave work early, have dinner, and rest early.

After finishing his meal, Li Weidong chatted with Zhou Xiaolin for a while, secretly taking advantage of her. Then, leaving Zhou Xiaolin feeling embarrassed and angry, he returned to the dormitory, washed up, and went to bed.

While Li Weidong was asleep, the courtyard was in an uproar.

(End of this chapter)